Steam-valve for locomotives or other en



(No Model.)

2 SheetsSheet 1. s. A. HINTON. STEAM VALVE FOR LOCOMOTIVES OR OTHER ENGINES. No. 605,282. Patented June 7,1898.

l/VVEN TOR A TTUH/VEYS (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. A. HINTON. STEAM VALVE FOR LOCOMOTIVES OR OTHER ENGINES. No. 605,282.

Patented June '7, 1898;.

. l/VVEN T0 4 TTOR/VEVJT WITNESSES ilNrrnn Y. STAT S P T NT r rriot.

STEAM-*VALVE FOR LOCOMOTIVES OR OTHER ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,282, dated June 7, 1898.

Application filed May 20, 1897. Serial No. 637,391. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. HINTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona,in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Means for Operating the Steam-Valves of Locomotives or other Engines, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for operating the steam-valves of locomotives, marine, stationary, and other engines; and the object thereof is to provide improved devices for this purpose which are operated by a single eccentric, so as to reverse the motion of the engine whenever desired, said eccentric being adapted to move said steam-valve either forward or backward.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure 1 is an isometric view of the mechanism which I employ; Fig. 2, a front view of a part thereof; Fig. 3, a side view of a roller-box which forms a part of myimprovement; Fig. 4., an edge view thereof; Fig. 5, an end view of a detail of theconstruction; Fig. 6, a side view thereof, showing a roller mounted thereon in dotted lines; and Fig. 7, an end and sectional side view of the roller shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

In the drawingsforming part of this specification the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same letters of refer- I ence in each of the views, and in said drawlifting shaft which is supported inbcarings b, and it will beapparent that the bearings 19 of the shaft B and the bearing a of the rocker-shaft a are connected with the framesupports,

work of the locomotive or engine in any desired manner, and said shaft B isprovided with two similar cranks b and the shaft B, provided with thecranks 6 is of the form applied to locomotives, and connected with the crank 01. of the rocker-shaft a is an cecentric-rod a and connected with the cranks b? are crank-rods b Ialso provide two yokeshapedbrackets or supports D, but one of which is shown, and these brackets'can rest on the main driving shaft or axle A or are bolted to the driving-box A of the locomotive to insure a proper relative position of the said bracket, and for this purpose holes or openings dare formed in said bracket and are made oblong in form in order to provide for a slight movement of said brackets or Mounted on the inner side of each of the brackets or supports is a roller box or frame G, the form and construction of which are best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and said roller box or frame consists of anupright plate g, provided with an upwardly-directed extension 9 and at its opposite sides with flanges 9 which project inwardly from the bracket or support D, and connected with the inner sides of each of the flanges g is a steel wedge 9 each-of which is, provided at its upper end with an outwardly,- directed arm r. through which passes a screw-threaded bolt 9 and the screwwith set-nuts g? and 93, one of which is mounted above and the other below the arms 9 of the wedges g and the flanges g are provided with vertical sl'ots l'Lthrough which are passed screws or bolts h, which are screwed into the Wedges g and said wedges g are vertically adjustable by means of this construction.

The lower endof the roller box or frame G is circular in form, as shown at 7L2, and provided with a flange or rim, which projects in the said roller box or frame is free to swing on the bracket or support D, and it will be understood that in practice two of these devices are employed, but one of which is shown, and the crank-rods 19 which are connected with the cranks b of the shaft B, are connected with the upwardly-directed extensions g of the roller box or frame, as shown at 70 Mounted on the shaft A adjacent to the inner sides of the roller box or frame G is an eccentric M, but one of which is shown, and said eccentric is provided with the usual strap or band m, which is composed of two parts connected at m and the upper part of said eccentric band or strap is provided with an upwardly-directed extension m with which the eccentric-rod a is connected, as shown at m, and this connection is made by means of a vertical slot m formed in the upwardlydirected extension m of the eccentric band or strap, and a pin or bolt m, which passes through a sleeve m mounted in the slot m said sleeve being composed of two parts, each of which is provided at its outer end with a flange or rim, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and by means of this construction the extent of the movement of the steam-valve may be trio-rod increasing the distance through which regulated, the raising of the end of the eccenthe steam-valve moves and the lowering of the same decreasing said distance, whereby the passage of the steam into the cylinder is regulated.

The upper portion of the eccentric strapor outer end thereof is a roller '0 which is made of steel hardened and ground inside and outside and which travels in the roller box or' frame or between the vertically movable wedges g mounted therein, and one end of I the shaft B is provided with a crank-arm P, to which connection is made by a reach-rod from the cab of the locomotive or engine.

The collar 0 of the shaft 0, on which the roller 0 is mounted, is provided with a vertical passage at 0 which communicates with a longitudinal passage in the end of said shaft on which the roller 0 is mounted, said longitudinal passage being provided with side. ports or passages which open outwardly through the sides of said shaft, thisconstruc-i tion being best shown in dotted lines at O in Fig. 6; and the object thereof is to pro-1 vide means for oiling the roller 0, and the: semicircular notch or recess 72,5 in the upper side of the plate h which is bolted to they lower end of the roller box or casing, is adapted to receive the shaft 0 when the ec-f centric M is in its lowest position.

It will be understood that this mechanism is adapted for use primarily in connection with reversible engines, and it will be understood that the bracket or supportD, the rollerframe G, the eccentric M, and the eccentric strap or band mounted thereon, the valve-rod a, the rocker-shaft a the cranks a and a connected therewith, and the eccentric-rod a are all duplicated; but in the drawings the only parts of this construction which are shown duplicated are the cranks b 011 the shaft 13 and-the crank-rods N.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement thereof.

By simply manipulating the crank P,which is under the control of the party in charge of the locomotive or engine, the valves with which the valve-rods a are connected may be operated so as to reverse the motion of the engine or locomotive whenever desired, this operation being accomplished by means of the swinging rocker box or frame G, with which the crank-rods b are connected, and the eccentrics M, with which the eccentricrods a are connected, together with the rollers O which'operate in connection with the roller boxes orframes, and the wear of the rollers 0 may be taken up at any time by means of the wedges 9 so as to cause the parts to operate smoothly and regularly at all times,

By means of this construction the finest adjustments may be made, and the roller boxes or frames may be incased, if desired, so as to exclude dust and dirt therefrom, and the ecdesired amount of steam is admitted, the re-,

sult being that the steam is utilized to the highest degree and in the bestpossible manner, thus largely increasing the power of the engine and economizing in the amount'of the steam used. The mechanism is also simple in construction and is not liable to get out of order or to be broken and thus frequently necessitate repairs, and many other changes will readily suggest themselves to all those familiar with this class of devices.

It will thus be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention by means of a mechanism which is simple in construction and operation and well adapted to produce the result for which it is intended, and it will be apparent that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

IIO

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with the driving shaft or axle of a locomotive or engine, of brackets or supports mounted thereover, a roller box or frame pivotally connected thereto, an eccentric mounted on said shaft or axle adjacent to said roller box or frame, a strap or band encompassingthe same, an upwardlydirected extension, an antifriction-roller supported thereby and operating in said roller box or frame, connections between said upwardly directed extension and the steamchest, means for operating said roller box or frame and means for taking up the wear on the bearing-surfaces of said roller box or frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the driving shaft or axle of a locomotive or engine, of brackets or supports mounted thereover, a roller box or frame pivotally connected thereto, an eccentricmonnted on said shaft or axle adjacent to said roller box or frame, a strap or band encompassing the same, an upwardlydirected extension, an antifriction-roller supported thereby and operating in said roller box or frame, connections between said upwardly-directed extension and the steam: chest, means for operating said rollerbox or frame, adjustable wedges for taking up the wear on the bearing-surfaces of said roller box or frame, and means for securing said Wedges in position, substantially as described.

3. lhe herein-described valve-operating mechanism for locomotives or engines, comprising the main drive shaft or axle of the locomotive or engine, brackets or supports I mounted thereover, roller boxes or frames pivotally connected with said brackets or supports, eccentrics mounted on said shaft or axle adjacent to said roller'boxes or frames,- and provided with straps or bands having out wardly-directed extensions, rollers connected with said upwardly-directed extensions, and operating in said roller boxes or frames, operative devices connecting said extensions of the eccentric straps or bands with the valves, and means for operating said roller boxes or frames, consisting of a shaft, suitably supported,and provided with crank-rods which are connected with said roller-boxes said shaft being also provided with means for operating the same, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a valve-gear for locomotive or other engines a roller box or frame comprising a plate, guide-fiangessupported thereon, a well for oil or other lubricant attached to the lower portion thereof, a roller operating in said frame and connections between said roller and the power-shaft, and between said roller and the steam-chest, substantially as de scribed.

5. In a valve-gear for locomotive or other engines a roller box or frame comprising a plate, guide-flanges supported thereon,wedgeshaped bars bearing against said flanges and removably attached thereto, a well for oil or other lubricant attached to the lower portion thereof, a roller operating in said frame, and connections between said roller and the powershaft, and between said roller and the steamchest, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 12th day of May, 1897.

' SAMUEL A. HINTON.

'Wi tnesses:

CATHERINE V. HINTON, HARRY W. JAMES. 

